The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal…

Yet we think, that where such an union cannot be had in Government, men that have liberty, without entanglement to their own consciences, to follow their duty, ought to do it with all tender respect to the edification and union of the Church wherein they live, and to make the best of their particular case that may be for that end. But seeing the wisdom and goodness of God hath made it our lot in this Land, to live under a Government, to which the abovementioned characters do well agree; it is hopeful, if as ⟨p. 373⟩we ought we conscionably adhere to the principles thereof, we may, yea, shall unite in the Lord.

Yet we think, that where such an union cannot be had in Government, men that have liberty, without entanglement to their own consciences, to follow their duty, ought to do it with all tender respect to the edification and union of the Church wherein they live, and to make the best of their particular case that may be for that end. But seing the wisdom and goodnesse of God hath made it our lote in this Land, to live under a Government, to which the abovementioned characters do well agree; it is hopefull, if as ⟨p. 373⟩we ought we conscionably adhere to the principles thereof, we may, yea, shall unite in the Lord.

Secondly, Supposing, that men agree in that same supreme government, to wit, Councils and Synods, there¹ may be some debate concerning the formal constitution thereof, what is to be accounted a rightly constitute Synod, and such as ought to be acknowledged so? It cannot be denied, but that there is a right and a wrong in this, and that there are rules to be kept, and that also de facto they may be broken, even where there is no failing in the matter. It is true also, that we will sometimes find worthy men quarrelling the constitution of Synods, and declining them, as was formerly hinted, refusing to appear before them, till some persons were removed from them, as Chrysostom and forty two Bishops with him, did in reference to that particular Synod at Chalcedon: and sometimes their Acts were declared void, because the meetings were not numerous, as Balsamon doth instance in the case of one Johannes Amathuntus, whose deposition was declared null, because all the Bishops of Cyprus were not convened to his trial, which might have been; and because, in strict reckoning, there was one fewer at his deposition than was allowed by the Canons. Yet concerning this we say, 1. That it will be found